HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY

It is our intention to foster a nurturing environment of open-ended exploration, curiosity and growth for children, teachers and parents that deepens our connections to Judaism, the community and the world around us.

What is a “Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum”? What does my child learn from it?

Our educational vision is based upon the emergent curriculum principles of the world-renowned schools for young children in Reggio Emilia, Italy. As a school community, we are committed to values based on an image of children as curious, competent and capable. Our journey begins as our staff asks questions, listens to children, collaborates with them and documents their work. As children discover and explore, they may work on investigations that last a few days to a few months. All projects are meaningful to them and their world. By creating a classroom environment that allows for open-ended learning and discovery, we give children a chance to build their understanding of the world. By providing “scaffolding,” the teachers assist children to become confident in their skills so that they may express themselves in many different symbolic languages—speech, drawing and acting, to name a few. We also believe that learning is a cooperative venture which includes other children, their teachers, their families and our larger community. Literacy, math, social studies, science, music and arts are all emphasized through a framework of hands-on contextualized experiences.

Will my child be ready for Kindergarten?

Yes. Our way of teaching, by having the students learn how to learn, prepares them for success in Kindergarten and beyond. They will build the foundation for literacy, math, science, creative, motor and social skills they will need to do well in later schooling. The difference is that the skills are taught in the context of what is interesting to the children.

LOGISTICS AND PRACTICAL MATTERS

What ages do you serve?

Our Preschool begins at age 2 and goes through PreK (five years old). If a child's birthday falls after the start of the year but before the end of November, they may start on or after their second birthday. However, you will need to pay the tuition from the beginning of the year to secure their spot. Children who turn two in January or later will need to wait until September to join the Preschool as they would be up to nine months younger than the oldest child in the 2s class. (They will be assigned to an age-appropriate group for the fall.)

What are your hours of operation?

The EDCJCC Preschool is open Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–6:00 pm. Exception: some holidays we close at 1:00 or 3:00 pm; please see the annual school calendar for details.

Does my child need to be here all day? When can I pick up my child?

No. You are welcome to pick your child up early; please discuss any change in plans with your child’s teachers. See next question for part-time schedules.

Do you offer part-time schedules?

Our core school day runs from 8:45 am–4:15 pm, and then parents have the option to extend the day to 6:00 pm on as many days as needed. The Early Room morning program (7:30–8:45 am) is included in the tuitions listed below. See below for more details.

The students are with their class and teachers during the Core Day Program (8:45 am–4:15 pm).

Class Age

Monthly Tuition for 2017-2018 School Year(7:30 am–4:15 pm)

Annual Activity Fee *

All tuitions for new families include the morning program (7:30-8:45 am), and the Core Day Program (8:45 am – 4:15 pm). Additional fees for the Afternoon Program (4:15–6:00 pm) are $180 per month or $18 per day for registration in advance. Daily Drop in is available at $20 per day for the Afternoon Program.

You do not need to sign up for or commit to the afternoon program at the time of registration.

Do you run on a 12-month or 9-month calendar? Do I need to pay tuition for the entire year?

We are a twelve-month program and parents are responsible for tuition from the first day of school through August 31 of the school year. Parents who withdraw a child for an extended period of time (e.g. vacation) are still required to pay for those months. All deposits, fees and tuition are non-refundable.

How do we get to the DCJCC, and where can we park?

The EDCJCC is located at 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, at the corner of 16th and Q. The entrance is on Q Street.

Our closest Metro stop is Dupont Circle on the Red Line. The Metrobus S1, S2 and S4 stops on 16th Street. The L2 line and 14th Street Lines (52, 53, 54) also stop near the J.

There is a parking lot on the east side of the J on Q Street. Families may use the designated spaces in the lot for drop-off and pick up at the designated times. You may also park in front of the building in the drop-off area for up to fifteen (15) minutes at a time.

Who can pick up my child from school?

For your child’s security and your peace of mind, you must give written permission for any individual to pick up your child. You may use the Emergency Contact and Pick-Up Authorization form, email or a written note. If you have not personally introduced us to this person, we will ask for identification.

Does my child need to be toilet-trained?

No. We understand that most two-year olds are not yet toilet trained. When your child is ready, we work closely with the parent and child to toilet train the child in a consistent, calming, encouraging manner. We celebrate success and keep a positive upbeat attitude when the child has an “accident.” The parent and school should follow a consistent and similar schedule, or the child’s training will be erratic. Your child’s teachers will keep you posted on progress—please keep us abreast of all news, for example, when your child comes to Preschool with only underwear on!

For which holidays (Jewish and federal) does the EDCJCC’s Preschool close?

The Preschool will be closed for the following Jewish holidays:

Rosh Hashanah

Yom Kippur

Sukkot

Shemini Atzeret

Simchat Torah

Passover

Shavuot

As you may know, the Hebrew calendar runs on a lunar calendar, which varies from the Roman calendar. Therefore, each year, the Jewish holidays are celebrated on different days on the secular calendar. Observance of Jewish holidays starts at sundown, and early closing times will be posted on the annual calendar.

The Preschool will close on the following federal holidays:

Labor Day

Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday)

Christmas Day (as part of the winter break)

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

Inauguration Day (when applicable)

Presidents’ Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

In addition, we are closed for a winter break at the end of December. We also close for two weeks at the end of August for a teacher break (one week) and teacher orientation and preparation for the upcoming school year (one week).

While we respect the diversity of our families’ observances in the home and outside of school, we do not celebrate the holidays of Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Easter in the preschool.

TUITION AND FEES

How can we pay the monthly tuition? Can we do an automatic payment?

Tuition is due on the 4th of each month. We will bill credit cards and bank accounts on the fourth (4th) of each month, or on the nearest business day if the fourth falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Late fees will be assessed starting on the 5th of the month.

We can charge the monthly tuition automatically to your credit card or through a bank draft/EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We do not accept check or cash payments.

Do we need to join the EDCJCC? Does it include access to the gym? How much is membership?

A Family FitnessMembership is included with your tuition. Your family will have access to all of the fitness facilities—pool, gymnasium squash and racquetball courts, locker rooms, fitness center—and a wide range of group exercise classes free to Fitness Members. That’s a savings of $1,300 each year! As always, your DCJCC membership gives you substantial discounts on camp and other programs.

Your Family Fitness Membership will start on the first day of the school year; please visit Member Services for details and to activate your membership.

Why do you charge an activity fee?

The activity fee covers all field trips, the weekly music classes, special events during the school week, performances and swim lessons in the summer for our oldest classes. This way, we do not have to ask for money throughout the year for the special events.

Do you offer scholarships or financial aid?

At this time, there are a few limited scholarships for the upcoming school year. Please contact Bini Silver, Chief Administrative Officer (binis@edcjcc.org) if you have any questions.

IN THE CLASSROOM

How diverse is your school? Do you have different types of families (e.g. single parents, same-sex couples, adopted children)?

We have Jewish, interfaith and non-Jewish families in our school. We welcome all children, regardless of religion, race, family type or cultural background, to experience our exciting, nurturing program.

We have many different types of families at the EDCJCC. We are proud of the diversity of the students and their families as we feel it strengthens the program and the children’s development.

What kind of snacks do you serve? Are they Kosher? What foods can we pack in our lunches?

We ask that parents bring in a veggie or dairy lunch because the EDCJCC adheres to a kosher food policy. The Preschool Parent Handbook has lunch suggestions

Nutritious snacks will be provided in the morning and afternoon. They include such items as cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, vegetables and dip, cereal and milk, and yogurt. Processed products such as pretzels, cereal and crackers must have a heksher (kosher symbol), indicating that the product was prepared under Rabbinic supervision.

Parents may pre-purchase lunches from Ben Yehuda Cafe to be delivered to your child's class at lunchtime.

If your child has special dietary needs, please inform us.

Will my child move to an older class during the year?

In general, we do not move children from one class to the next except at the end of the school year in August. They stay with children their own age and have a greater opportunity to bond with their teachers and form friendships with the other children of the class.

How often do you clean the classrooms?

To decrease the spread of illnesses and germs, general housekeeping chores are part of the teachers’ daily routine and toys are sanitized often. A professional cleaning crew also takes care of cleaning, vacuuming and mopping on a nightly basis. They also clean rugs/carpets and wax the floors as needed.

What are the ratios of children to teachers? What are the total class sizes?

The ratio is determined by the age of the children and the size of the classroom.

In the 2-year old class, the ratio is 4:1, with 12 children and three teachers.

In the 2 ½ year old classroom, the ratio is 11:2 (the maximum class size for that room is 11 children)

For the 3s, 4s and PreK, the ratio is 8:1, although it can go to 10:1 in the PreK and 4s classes if necessary.

How often do the children go on field trips?

Field trips can enhance the curriculum and children’s learning experiences. The teachers will arrange several field trips throughout the year, guided by the appropriateness for the age, weather conditions and interests. Parents are asked to volunteer to drive and/or chaperone at least one field trip. Car/booster seats are required for all children as designated by law.

Do the children nap? What about the older children?

We offer rest time each afternoon. We provide a cot or mat for all children with the expectation that they will use the time to rest. As the children get older, they are invited to participate in other quiet activities if they no longer need a nap. A washable, size-appropriate, labeled blanket needs to remain at the Preschool for rest-time and will be sent home weekly for washing.

What is your policy on Kosher food (Kashrut)?

The Preschool follows the Kashrut policy of the EDCJCC. All food brought into the school by parents must be dairy or vegetarian, and all of the food supplied by the school will be strictly kosher. All foods that are shared in class and at school activities must have a kosher symbol on them. This policy reflects a sensitivity to and awareness of the diverse practices within the Jewish community. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding our dietary policy.

What is your policy on discipline and conflict resolution?

We believe in “positive discipline,” which focuses on good behavior rather than bad, and follow the guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices set by the National Association for the Education of Children (NAEYC). While some behaviors are typical for a specific “age and stage,” we recognize that children learn appropriate social behaviors at different rates. With that in mind, we observe and make individual behavior plans when necessary. As children get older, we encourage them to resolve conflicts on their own, building social skills and self-confidence in difficult, emotional situations.

For more information on our behavior policies, please consult the Preschool Parent Handbook.

What is your policy on computers in the classrooms?

We are fortunate to have access to computers in all of our classrooms. We use these as tools for the teachers to communicate with the parents via email, to prepare their “Today We” notes and to type up documentation. They may also use it for research. For the children, their use is limited to research and typing up their own notes with the direct guidance of the teachers. We do not use the computers for playing games or independent web-surfing.

Do you let the children watch television?

Occasionally, we will use video to enhance a lesson or demonstrate a point directly related to a project, for example to show an animal in motion, an example of a dance or for a “tour” of Israel. These will be used for specific educational purposes, and we will limit the duration of the videos.

CURRICULUM AND JUDAIC CONTENT

How Jewish is the curriculum?

We teach about the Jewish holidays and host Shabbat (Fridays at 9:30 am) for the school. We teach human and universal values, but because we are a JCC, we teach them through a Jewish lens with the Hebrew phrases. These include Tikkun Olam (healing the world), Tzedakah (charity and justice) and equal rights for all.

Because our school is made up of Jewish, interfaith and non-Jewish families, we do not assume that every child and parent practices or knows all the aspects of Judaism. Therefore, we do some parent education about what the children are learning about and why.

How do you celebrate Shabbat in school? Does the school close early on Fridays?

Friday is a special day in our week: it is when the Preschool celebrates the Shabbat with a sing-along, blessing recitation and special snack of challah and grape juice. We celebrate and remember this day of rest that separates Shabbat from the week. We have found that this tradition is fun for all of the children, even those who do not observe Shabbat at home. We say blessings for the candles, “wine” (grape juice) and challah. The blessings (brachot) are listed in the Preschool Parent Handbook. We welcome and encourage parents to join us.

We maintain our regular hours (7:30 am–6:00 pm) on Fridays.

ADMISSIONS AND STARTING SCHOOL

When can my child start? How old do they need to be?

The Preschool is licensed for children ages 2–5; therefore, a child must have had his/her second birthday in order to start preschool.

If your child is turning two after September 2 but before December, we are able to offer you a spot for them to start after their 2nd birthday, but you will need to pay tuition for those months to hold the space. If you would like to defer, we can put you back on the list for consideration as spaces become available.

Starting before September is a possibility, but it depends on space being available in your child’s current age-appropriate class. Also, a child turning two years old in the spring or summer would be at least eight months younger than the youngest child in this year’s two-year old class. We prefer to keep the age ranges in a class much smaller as we feel it’s best for the children.

What is the application process for new students?

A waitlist application must be submitted with a non-refundable $50 application fee. We give siblings registration priority, and we then go by date of application. You may apply online, in person or using a paper form (available in the school or online).

Parents of children turning two years old will be notified in late January if their child has been accepted for enrollment in the two-year old class for September. Parents of children who will be three or four-years-old will be notified in early February, after our re-enrollment process has finished.

How do you make your admissions decisions?

Priority on the waitlist is determined by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, whether an older sibling has been a student, sign-up date, the age of the child and the spaces available. The waitlist is ranked by sibling priority and date of application. We do not give out a waitlist "number." We do our best to be fair to all of our applicants and give you as much information as possible about your status.

What if we don’t get a placement in the first round for fall admissions?

We will continue admissions on a rolling basis, with a one-week deadline to submit the signed contract and deposit, until all spaces are filled. We keep the waitlist throughout the year and will contact families as spaces become available.

If you do not get a placement for the first round, we will send you an email confirming that your family is still on the waitlist and the timing for the next round of announcements. We will keep you on the waitlist until you tell us to take you off. We will continue to accept students on a rolling basis as spaces are available.

If you wish to decline a spot we've offered, or if you would like us to take your child off our waitlist, please let us know as soon as possible.

We’ve been offered a spot for our child for the upcoming school year. What do we need to do to secure that?

To hold your child’s space in our school, we require a signed contract and deposit payment within one week’s notice of admission, as stated in the emailed offer. All deposits, fees and tuition are non-refundable.

Are the first days of school shorter for new students?

To ease the transition of children new to our program, pick-up time for all NEW three and four year old students will be 12:45 pm on first day of school.

Children who are entering our two-year old classes (including the 2 ½ year old class and the late 2s/early 3s class) will have an abbreviated schedule to ease their transition. On the first day, the children will attend school from 9:30–11:30 am with a parent. On the second day, the twos will attend from 9:00 am–12:45 pm (including lunch) and the third day will be a full day, although we recommend picking your child up close to 3:30–4:00 pm that day.

Returning students will start with their regular schedule.

Is there an orientation before school starts?

We offer a Parent Orientation Open House during our staff training and transition time before the start of school. This is a great opportunity for new and returning families to meet their new teachers and explore their new rooms. Please note that the teachers will be working on preparing the rooms for the first day of school, and they will not “look ready” at the time of the open house.

What forms do we need to fill out?

Our school and the DC Department of Health require many forms to be on file before your child starts school. Our deadline for all forms is June 15.

STAFF

What are the staff qualifications?

Lead teachers meet the DC licensing and NAEYC Accreditation requirements and often exceed the necessary qualifications. All have taken formal early childhood education classes, and many hold degrees in early childhood education or a related field.

Assistant teachers also exceed basic requirements. All of our assistant teachers are degreed or have several years of early childhood education training and/or experience working in an early childhood setting.

All teaching teams function as equals; co-teaching and sharing the responsibilities of the classroom are essential components to a Reggio-inspired curriculum.

What is the hiring process for new teachers? Do you do background checks?

All of our teachers, full-time and substitute, go through an interview process with the Director and our current teaching staff. They spend time in a classroom for a working interview as well. We check references and perform thorough background checks for all staff, including substitute teachers.

Do you have ongoing trainings for the staff?

We believe that it is important for our teaching staff to be dedicated learners themselves, and we provide numerous opportunities for continuing education and professional development throughout the year, including trainings, conferences, mentoring and classes, as well as CPR and First Aid certification.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

How can families get involved?

We welcome and encourage parental involvement in a variety of ways. Our parents plan and organize special events and fundraisers and support the program and staff. We have Room Parents as well.

We host family activities throughout the year. These events are a great opportunity to get to know other families at the Preschool and to see your child in action with their school friends. We have a Back-to-School Night, Thanksgiving lunch, Chanukah party, Purim party, Passover Seder and summer class celebrations. We offer these at different times of the day and different days so that working families have an opportunity to join us.

Parents are always welcome for lunch, birthdays or simply for visits. Please make arrangements for celebrations with your child’s teacher. We also invite parents to share their talents, occupations or hobbies with us.

How do you communicate with the families?

We feel that it is extremely important to be in close contact with parents in regard to your child’s day. We can talk with you during morning or afternoon pick-up, or you can call during the day. Since drop-off and pick-up can be rushed and busy times for children, parents and staff, if you would like to have more than a few moments to chat, we encourage you to set up a phone conference or a personal conference time with the classroom teacher.

Communication is very important to us! No question is ever too small or too “silly” to ask. Please feel free to call with any of your questions or concerns. You are also welcome to stop by the Director or Assistant Director's office at any time to talk.

We communicate in writing in a number of ways: Today We (a daily e-mail highlighting the activities of each class with reminders for calendar events), a parents’ bulletin board, and notes and letters in your child’s mailbox. We also have semi-annual parent-teacher conferences, a Back-to-School Night and regular Preschool Family Forum meetings.

Can we speak with a current Preschool family?

A number of parents have offered to speak to incoming families or families considering our school. If you would like to be connected to one of them, please let the Director know.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY

How secure is the building?

The DCJCC takes security concerns very seriously. We have a full-time Security Director on site and a trained Crisis Management Team. Our Security Director constantly monitors situations that would affect the safety and security of our children and makes plans accordingly. We will keep parents up-to-date when specific situations arise.

We have evacuation and emergency response systems in place to best protect the students and staff in our program. We conduct periodic fire/evacuation/security drills for the entire building, including the Preschool.

Please note that the only way to enter the DECJCC during school hours is through the entrance on Q Street. Members must show their ID to enter the building and parents will be given an ID card to show at the front desk. It is important that the doors to the Q Street entrance be securely closed behind you.

If you have questions about these and other security systems in place, please contact us.

How do you handle allergies?

Please remember to alert us to any food allergies. We will offer children alternative snacks if necessary. This is one of the reasons why we do not allow children to share their food.

We post a list of children with allergies in each classroom so that all of the staff is aware of the precautions that need to be taken to protect our children.

Are peanuts allowed in school?

We are a peanut aware school: Our Preschool does not allow peanuts to be sent in the lunches. We do this to protect the safety of our students with severe peanut allergies. We cannot guarantee a peanut-free environment, but we will do our best.

Follow the EDCJCC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all our programs and events

The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.

Consider a donation through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #54775)